Container Fields, PDF and Network

[Angela10]

I'm adding on to a database for a law firm. The main file has one record per case. The new sub-file will track pleadings filed in a case. One case - many pleadings. I would like to create a container field in the pleadings file and use that to link references to .pdfs. The .pdfs are saved on the network on a shared drive in each individual case file.

I know how to build the relationship, create the container field and link the object as a reference. But, here's the rub. I tested the solution and works great on my machine, I click on the image field, the packager.exe thing comes up and asks if I want to open the adobe file. The file opens in adobe, and I can see the file name on the header. This suggests to me that the file is linked via reference?

However, when my co-worker links an image from her computer and either she or I click on the image field it just opens a .pdf in adobe but the file header says "embedded file". This suggests to me that file is embedded? We are both clicking the link option.

My end game is to link by reference all documents, not embed the .pdfs. I'm afraid the results I'm describing above are showing that one machine embeds and the other links even though we are clicking the same thing? I work using FMP 6, FM Server 5.5 for the databases and Window XP with SP2.

Also of note, our system admin guy is going to do away with mapped drives and we will eventually use something called UNC paths. Will this cause a problem? I know FMP, but not so much with network.

What is my question to you all? What is the best practices out there for accomplishing this task? I am concerned about how the two machines have different results on the linked .pdf. I have read through the forum to find an answer, but nothing is fitting exactly. I guess I need some more background on how to set this up in a Windows environment. That way I can talk more intelligently to our systems admin guy.

Thank you for your time.

[Angela10]

I think I found a clue. My co-worker is using Adobe 7. I am using Adobe 6. When I open a .pdf document linked from her machine the doc header reads "embedded file" rather than the file name. From a sampling of other Adobe 6 / FMP 6.v4 computers at the office the files appear to link correctly -launches that packager thing and the file name is listed on the Adobe doc header.

Question: Any known issues with Adobe 7 and FMP 6.v4 and the linking of .pdfs via a container field and linking an object?